Jaguar recently announced that its upcoming F-Type sports car will be showcased in production form at the 2012 Paris Auto Show next month. When ready, the car will be launched in convertible form and a coupe version will follow suit.

The company also confirmed that the F-Type will come in three different engine options which will include a supercharged V8. The base model will feature the company’s new 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine. This engine is said to deliver around 335bhp.

The mid-spec model will get a 375bhp version of the same engine. The top of the range model, which is rumoured to be named the F-Type R, will get an updated version of Jaguar’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8. This engine in its updated form delivers around 542bhp. But Jaguar is likely to limit the power output so that this model will not steal the limelight from Jaguar’s current performance flagship model, the XKR-S.

All three sub-models will get rear wheel drive, an eight speed automatic transmission and an engine start-stop technology which will aid fuel efficiency. The car features a lightweight chassis and body which is made entirely out of aluminum and this will greatly improve vehicle dynamics.

The two V6 F-Type is said to take on the likes of the Porsche Boxsters and BMW Z4s while the V8 powered model will rival cars like the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the lesser 911 models. This will allow Jaguar to move its next generation XK further upscale in terms of performance. This will allow the car to compete with other grand tourers such as the Porsche 911 Turbo.